This information could help you

save a life.

How can I get naloxone? OpioidOverdoseNaloxone (Narcan®) is a prescription medicine

that can temporarily stop the effect of opioids and

help a person start breathing again. It can be

given as an injection into a muscle or as an

intranasal spray. It is easy and very safe to use.

In WA State, you can get a prescription for

naloxone if you think you could:

overdose on opioids yourself.

help someone else who has overdosed.

Go to stopoverdose.org to see if naloxone is

available from a pharmacy, doctor or health

department near you.

Opioids Include:

Resources Opioid Overdose Risks

Safer use of pain medication: Washington Department of Health

tinyurl.com/wa-doh-tad

Addiction treatment: Washinton Recovery Help Line

24 hour crisis help and referral

warecoveryhelpline.org

1-866-789-1511

Suboxone/burprenorphine providers

tinyurl.com/bup-locator Treatment services in the US

findtreatment.samhsa.gov

This brochure is not a substitute for more complete

overdose response training from a medical

provider or health educator. For more info go to:

stopoverdose.org

If someone you know is taking prescription

pain medication or using heroin...

...would you know what to do

if they accidentally overdosed?

Heroin and prescription pain medications:

Vicodin (hydrocodone) OxyContin (oxycodone) Dilaudid (hydromorphone) MS Contin (morphine)

Fentanyl

Percocet

Methadone

...and others

If someone takes more opioids than

their body can handle, they can pass

out, stop breathing, and die.

Overdose can take minutes or even

hours to occur.

Anyone who uses opioids can overdose.

Restarting opioids after a break. Tolerance

drops within a few days.

Using opioids at the same with alcohol or sedating drugs like sleep aids and

benzodiazepines (“benzos” like Valium and

Xanax). Mixed together, they can slow breathing

even more.

Taking prescription pain medicine more often

or in higher doses than prescribed.

Any heroin use due to its wide range of purity.

Taking someone else’s pain medication.

Using long-acting opioids (like methadone) or

powerful opioids (like fentanyl).

Heart or lung disease.

If someone has overdosed before, they are more likely to overdose again.

Revised August 2017

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Taking Action in an Opioid Overdose

Look and listen for:

Check: Could this be an opioid overdose?

Slow or no breathing

Gurgling, gasping, or snoring

Clammy, cool skin

Blue lips or nails

Pill bottles, needles,

or alcohol

Try to wake them up:

Shake them and

call their name.

Rub your knuckles

hard over their

chest bone.

If they don't wake up,

you need to act fast!

Say where you are and that the

person isn't breathing.

You don't need to say anything

about drugs or medications.

Give the naloxone. Follow the instructions on

the package or in the

overdose rescue kit.

Start rescue breathing.If they don't respond in 3-5 minutes, give a second dose of naloxone. Keep rescue breathing.

Do rescue breathing even if you don't have naloxone. Oxygen is critical!

If they start to wake up and

breathe, stay with them.

Watch them until medical help arrives. Naloxone wears off in

30-90 minutes. When it does,

the person can stop breathing again.

If you must leave, put them into the recovery

position and in a place they can be found.

1 Call 911. 2

Give naloxone and start rescue breathing.3

Stay with them. 4

Good Samaritan Law

Rescue Breathing

Recovery Position

If you get medical help

for an overdose or

alcohol poisoning, you

and the victim cannot be charged

for drug use, possession, or

underage drinking.

WA RCW 69.50.315

Tilt head back. Lift chin. Pinch nose.

Give 2 quick breaths.

Chest should rise.

Then give 1 slow breath every 5 seconds.

Keep going until they start

breathing or until help arrives.